Crucible-tongs



To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL MURDOOH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CRUCIBLE-TQNGS.

, SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 263,799, datedSeptember 5, 1882,

v Application filed July 13, 1882. (No model.)

Be it known that I, SAMUEL G. Mnnnocrr, a citizen of the United States,residin gatPittsburg, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Crucible-Tongsand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, making a part of this specification, in which--likelettersindicating like parts- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crucible-tongs, showing the same applied to a crucible; and Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view of a part of the device to an enlargedscale.

In making crucible-steel the crucibles are ordinarily removed from thefurnace by a workman,whostandsoverthefurnace-openingabove the crucible,and in such position applies a pair of tongs toand lifts the crucibles,with their contents, up from the furnace and sets them to one side onthe floor. Then, with another pair ot'ton gs, he, or another workman,pours out the contents. This work of lifting the crucibles and pouringthem is not only very laborious and exhausting, owing to the intenseheat, but it isalso dangerous, andis frequently attended with bodilyinjury.

The object of my invention is to provide for doing this work by means ofmechanical appliances, the use of which does not involve the excessivelaborand exposure heretofore incurred in doing the work by hand.

My invention consists, in general terms, of a pair of tongs havingpivoted clamping devices adapted to fit and grasp the exterior of thecrucible on opposite sides and at different points in its height, withprovision for turning such clamps on their pivots, whereby the cruciblemay be raised or lowered by the tongs, and while firmly held by them mayalso be tipped or turned for pouring; and I also provide for raising andlowering the tongs by means of a crane insteadof by hand, as hereinaftermore fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, A A represent two arms or members of a pair of tongs,the two being pivoted togethercentrally, in the usual way, as at a. Tothe lower end of each member A is secured, by a rotary hearing or pivot,c, a clampbar, 0, such bar being rigidly secured to the inner end ofpivot-pin c,i any convenient way-for example, between a shoulder, e, andupset head 6 on the pin. Other forms ofrigid attachment may be employed,however, if desired. To either end of the barsGareattached rigidly,inany convenient way, clamping shoes or blocks 0 G, which havecurvedinnerfaces corresponding in form to the surface of the crucible B.When the tongs are closed upon a crucible, as illustrated in thedrawings, these shoes 0/ bear against it on opposite sides, and at twopoints in its height on each side, thereby taking a firm and secure gripupon the ,crucible, such that it may be suspended and turned to either avertical, horizontal, or inclined position at pleasure. One or both thepivots c are extended outward beyond the members A, and the outer end orends, 0, are formed into an angular shank, to which a wrench or key, D,having therein a corresponding socket, (I, may be applied for tippingthe crucible for pouring. Instead of this wrench or key D, a crank, arm,a pair of ton gs, or other equivalent device, may be used for tippingthe crucible on the pivots of the tongs. I prefer to use wrenches,however, substantially such as shown, on account of convenience inapplying, using, and removing them.

In the upper ends of members A are journaled pulleys or sheaves a,through which is passed a chain, a which. is carried upward and attachedin any convenient way to the hoisting-chain of a crane. Such crane maybe of the usual construction, consisting of a vertical rotary post and ajib, on which is mounted a traveling car having sheaves on its frame.

The lifting-chain is passed in various ways,

over these sheaves on the car, and thence, over suitable guide-sheaves,to a winding-drum on the post. Such cranesarein common use in and aboutsteel-works, and need not be shown or described in detail.

In operation, the tongs are brought to the proper position over thecrucible to be lifted by moving the jib and car of the crane. The tongsare then lowered, and aworkman adjusts the clamping-shoes 0' uponopposite sides of the crucible. Upward strain on the chain c causes 2sea-799 the tongs to close tightly upon the crucible, and the heavierthe crucible may be the tighter will be the grip of the tongs, so thatthe crucible Will be held and raised by the tongs as the crane-chain iswound up. When raised to the proper height the crane is turned on itspost, bringing the crucible over the molds which are to receive itscontents. The wrenches D are then applied to shanks c on one or bothsides, as may be desired, and the crucible is tipped or turned on itspivots c 0, so as to pour its contents into the mold or molds. When thecrucible is emptied it maybe placed on the floor or bed in the desiredposition by turning the crane and loweringthe tongs. By reversing thisoperation the tongs may be used as Well for setting the cruciblespreparatory to melting. By this means the workmen are re lieved from thelaborious part of the work of lifting, moving, and pouring thecrucibles. This work is very exhausting and dangerous when done by hand,as heretofore. With my improvement machinery may be employed for thiswork instead of hand-labor, and the workmen relieved to a correspondingextent.

A, bars 0 C, pivot-pinscc, connecting the bars and members by a rotaryjoint, with wrenchshanks c on the extended ends of such pins, andclamping-shoes O O, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of pivoted membersA A, bar 0, connected by a rotaryjoint to the lower end of each member, clamping-shoes O, andlifting-chain 01?, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my hand.

SAMUEL U. MURDOOH.

Witnesses:

R. H. W'HITTLESEY, (J. L. PARKER.

